Oklahoma's Next Move in Health Care Fight

Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin announces the state will
not create a health-insurance exchange or expand Medicaid.  The state is also prepared to fight any
federally-created exchange as part of its plan to continue to fight the
implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. 

The Governor says after consulting with other Republican
Governors and several state leaders she made the decision to not create the
exchange.  Governor Fallin says
ultimately, any exchange the state would have spent millions to create might
not have met the federal requirements.

In a statement, the Governor says any expansion of
Medicaid could ultimately cost Oklahoma more in the long run.  “Such an expansion would be unaffordable,
costing the state of Oklahoma up to $475 million between now and 2020, with escalating
annual expenses in subsequent years. It would also further Oklahoma’s reliance
on federal money that may or may not be available in the future given the dire
fiscal problems facing the federal government. On a state level, massive new
costs associated with Medicaid expansion would require cuts to important
government priorities such as education and public safety. Furthermore, the
proposed Medicaid expansion offers no meaningful reform to a massive
entitlement program already contributing to the out-of-control spending of the
federal government.”

David Blatt, the director of Oklahoma Policy Institute
says the decision is troubling.  “Not
expanding Medicaid also means that federal taxes paid by Oklahomans will be
spent on health care in other states, not here in Oklahoma. Hospitals,
community health centers, physicians, and other medical providers across
Oklahoma will continue to absorb unnecessarily high levels of uncompensated
care, while shifting costs to Oklahomans with insurance through higher charges
and insurance premiums.”

Several other state leaders issued statements in support
of the Governor and have vowed to work on ways to improve access to healthcare
in Oklahoma.

Posted: Monday, November 19 2012, 09:35 PM CST